While Oregon has been in the midst of an insane heat wave this past week, it’s been a good time to enjoy a cold beverage, a LOT of water, stay inside and enjoy some pop culture. Here’s a few things that kept me cool and relaxed over the past month…
Reading
I finished Project Hail Mary at the very end of May – and it was a very fun read. If you liked The Martian you’ll also enjoy this science fiction.
I picked up The Vanishing Half from the library after all the rave reviews and I have to say – it did not disappoint! I’ve heard that Brit Bennett’s first book The Mothers is even better, so I may have to add that to my never ending list.
I decided that I really wanted to LISTEN to Obama’s memoir A Promised Land instead of read it, which was an excellent choice. AND I got it on audio from the library which was great, but came with a 3 week time limit on a 30 hour book. SO I am now half way through (up to part 4!) and waiting for it on hold again (just 5 weeks to go!)
I am now listening to Persist by Elizabeth Warren. She spend the first 20% of the book talking about childcare in America. While I knew a lot about the issues of childcare, she really really really gets into the details of why it’s such a crisis in this country. It’ll make you angry and maybe have some hope…
I picked up The Final Revival of Opal & Nev after some fantastic reviews and I really enjoyed it! It’s a work of fiction told in a journalist/interview style which I enjoyed. I had a hard time getting through the “editors notes” at the beginning, but once you get into the story, it’s GREAT. It’s a fictional “Behind the Music” kind of story about a 70’s duo and the journalists life is a bit more intertwined than is probably ethical.
Listening
In an effort to get through Obama’s book I haven’t listened to as many podcasts lately, but I have been keeping up on What a Day and I’m looking forward to getting back into The Turning: The Sisters Who Left, about a nun who left the Missionaries of Charity – Mother Theresa’s order. It’s WILD. I also ALWAYS love Late Night Lit from Seth Meyers podcast!
Watching
My list of shows never ends, but this month I finished two shows that couldn’t be more different. The season finale (and this season) of The Handmaids Tale wasn’t quite what I expected. I am curious what they will do with The Testaments spinoff since the series handled some plot points different. To say that I “enjoyed” the season is not the right word, but it moved in a direction that I am curious to continue watching, even though I think it could have easily wrapped up with this season.
I also finished the finale season of Younger which is a fun series that I enjoyed binging this winter and am glad to see wrap up. The final season was not nearly as great as the rest of the series, but it was still nice to wrap it up and make sure that Liza ended up where she belongs.
I continue to LOVE this season of Top Chef in Portland. The Tillamook creamery episode was super fun since we just visited the creamery this spring! My two favorites didn’t make it (Sara & Jamie) but I am excited to see how it ends. And I am LOVING the Oregon love!
My husband and I are huge Anthony Bourdain fans and would record Parts Unknown and binge on occasion. When he passed away 3 years ago we had most of Season 11 on our DVR and couldn’t bring ourselves to watch it, and then there was a 12th season that’s been sitting at the end of our DVR list for longer than anything else. The heat dome was the perfect time to remind us of this mans genius.
How did you survive the Heat Dome? What pop culture has kept you sane on road trips and family vacations so far this summer?
Have you seen the trailer for the Anthony Bourdain doc in theaters now called Roadrunner? It looks so good. I will definitely be seeing it. And I loved the latest season of Top Chef. When they had the episode at Scholls Valley Lodge – my good friend owns it. She said there were like 100 crew people there. They are coming back this October. Also, did you hear about the winner Gabe (they should have picked Sara)